Abstract: A printer frame assembly having snap-together parts includes a base member, two side frame members, resilient cushions and an impact platen. The base member has locating receptacles to position the side frame members and interlocking flexure latches to snap-lock with corresponding locking surfaces located on the two side frame members. The interlocking flexure latches provide a bias to align the side frame members in a front-to-back direction and lateral alignment channels to prevent lateral displacement. The resilient cushions are positioned between the bottoms of the side frame members and the base member to urge the interlocking flexure latches and locking surfaces into secure engagement and to eliminate any clearances between the side frame members and the base member. The impact platen serves as a structural member of the frame and is positioned intermediate the two side frame members.

Abstract: A printer of the type including a platen, a bank of hammers extending in a straight line along and spaced from the platen and a continuous metal band of magnetizable material on which are mounted a plurality of print elements is provided with drive means for moving the band between the platen and the hammer bank and control means for controlling the movement of the band so that the print elements on the band move along the line of hammers. The band drive means includes a drive wheel located near one end of the hammer bank and means for forcing the band into close contact with the peripheral surface of the drive wheel. The means for forcing the band into close contact with the peripheral surface of the drive wheel can be a permanent magnet member located on the surface of the drive wheel. The band movement control means includes guide means for guiding the band so that it extends along the hammer bank and permanent magnet means adapted to force the band into close contact with the guide means.

Abstract: To obtain a good print quality in metal paper printers, the print current, after ignition of the arc, must be rapidly reduced to a fraction of the value necessary for ignition. For this purpose, two transistor power stages (T3, T4) are connected to the print electrode (2). Their partial currents form the print current, whose rapid reduction after ignition of the arc is obtained by the two transistor power stages being operated at voltages (U2, U3) of different magnitude. The second transistor stage (T4) is operated at a voltage (U3), whose magnitude corresponds to the drop in potential occurring upon ignition between the grounded metal layer (3) of the record carrier (4) and the print electrode. As a result, the second transistor stage is switched off when a diode (D) connected to it becomes non-conductive.

Abstract: An apparatus for encoding magnetic data and printing on a plurality of closely spaced labels releasably mounted on a supply roll of carrier strip, includes a magnetic head for encoding the labels and a printer for printing on the labels. The carrier strip extends from the supply roll past the magnetic head and to the printer, and forms a variably sized loop between the head and the printer. The variably sized loop has a gap, across which an encoded label may be transferred so that movement of a label past the printer is independent of movement of the supply roll. The magnetic head is movable parallel to the carrier strip so that the plurality of labels may be encoded and printed without reversing the supply roll, thus increasing the speed at which labels may be encoded and printed. The speed of the movable head may be precisely controlled to ensure accurate encoded. The encoded data is verified when the magnetic head moves over the label back to its original position.

Abstract: A time base signal for controlling the recording of binary data is developed by measuring the velocity of a magnetic record. The velocity is measured by determining the time interval required for a mark recorded by a write head to move a predetermined distance to a read head.

Abstract: Efficient opaque metal conductors extending across the light receiving surface of a time delay and integration scanning array, are arranged at an angle to the array so as to make their interference with light, projected onto the array, substantially uniform. An anamorphic lens distorts the image projected onto the array to enable more convenient and efficient use of the array surface area.